On the covered Nintendo Switch console, 2318-0006, 2618-0006, 2318-0540, 2203-0025, 2203-0020 means local wireless play cannot start: the players do not each own a copy of the game, or the consoles cannot hear each other or a license conflict was detected First, check that a player on each console owns a copy of the game, and that the copies are not the same Nintendo Account's download on both consoles.
Differential
Likely causes of “Nintendo Switch console codes 2318-0006, 2618-0006 and 3 more”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Only one copy of the game across the consoles
What separates it The code appears when two consoles try to play the same download bought on one Nintendo Account
How to confirm Confirm each console has its own copy; Nintendo says a game downloaded by one account on two consoles cannot be played between them locally
- 2
A DLC or license conflict on one Nintendo Account
What separates it Both consoles use the same account and DLC was purchased
How to confirm Give each console a copy of the game and DLC, or match online with two accounts that each hold Nintendo Switch Online
- 3
Consoles too far apart or too much wireless clutter
What separates it The code appears when consoles are more than a few meters apart or with wireless devices nearby
How to confirm Place them two to three meters apart with no metal, glass or electronics between them, and pause nearby Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices
- 4
A console that cannot complete local communication
What separates it The code persists between the same two consoles even when close together with the right copies
How to confirm Test each console against a third console; Nintendo says the failing console needs service, or both if you cannot tell which
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact code and whether you were playing locally or online
- Whether each console has its own copy of the game and any DLC
- Which Nintendo Accounts are used on each console
- How far apart the consoles were and what wireless devices were nearby
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
Reversiblecheck that a player on each console owns a copy of the game, and that the copies are not the same Nintendo Account's download on both consoles.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleGive each console its own copy, keep the consoles close, restart both, make sure Joy-Con are connected while you troubleshoot, and read the license note if the online license is in use on more than one console.
Check the copies
ReversibleMake sure a player on each console owns a copy of the game. The same downloaded game on one Nintendo Account cannot be played between two of that account's consoles over local wireless.
Restart both consoles
ReversibleHold POWER for at least three seconds on each console, choose Power Options and Restart, then retry the game.
Position the consoles
ReversiblePlace them two to three meters apart with nothing metal, glass or electronic between or near them, and temporarily switch off nearby Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices.
Keep Joy-Con connected while you test
ReversibleNintendo says to keep Joy-Con connected while troubleshooting local communication, to avoid interference from pairing.
Read the license note
ReversibleFor 2203-0020 and 2318-0540, review how licenses work across multiple consoles: downloaded software and DLC can play on only one console at a time under an online license.
Decide about service
ReversibleIf the connection still fails between the same consoles, Nintendo says the failing console needs service, and both if you cannot tell which.
Every code on this page
What Nintendo's article says about each code
Nintendo publishes a separate article for every code below, and the fix on this page is the fix all of them share. The line beside each code is what that code's own article adds: the message, the situation, or the one step that differs.
- 2318-0006
- Unable to complete matchmaking, disconnected from an online match, or unable to start a local wireless game; for local play, check each console owns the game, restart, and place the consoles two to three meters apart.
- 2618-0006
- The same situation and steps as 2318-0006.
- 2318-0540
- Unable to start a local wireless game; usually only one copy of the game exists across the consoles, or DLC on one Nintendo Account conflicts.
- 2203-0025
- Local communication fails or a transfer stops; restart the source console, keep Joy-Con connected while troubleshooting, and bring the consoles together; otherwise service.
- 2203-0020
- Local communication cannot continue because a rights conflict was detected, usually the online license in use on more than one console.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If local communication fails between the same two consoles at close range with the right copies, Nintendo says the console that cannot connect will need service; send both if you cannot tell which
- !Downloaded software and DLC can only be played on one console at a time under one online license
- !Do not open a console to check its wireless hardware
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. These articles cover local wireless play and local communication between consoles, including the license conflicts that block it. They do not cover online matchmaking.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does 2318-0006, 2618-0006, 2318-0540, 2203-0025, 2203-0020 mean on a Nintendo Switch console?+
local wireless play cannot start: the players do not each own a copy of the game, or the consoles cannot hear each other or a license conflict was detected
Can two consoles share one downloaded game locally?+
Not when the same Nintendo Account downloaded it on both. Buy a copy for each console, or match online with two accounts that hold Nintendo Switch Online.
How far apart should the consoles be?+
Nintendo says two to three meters, with no metal, glass or electronic objects between them.
Does the error mean a broken console?+
Rarely. Nintendo lists service only after the copy, restart, distance and interference steps fail.